Systems and methodology for voice and/or gesture communication with device having v2x capability

Abstract

A system includes a first communication module for receiving a user message, a processing unit for converting the user message to a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) message, and a second communication module. The first communication module, the processing unit, and the second communication modules are implemented in a first vehicle. The second communication module is configured to transmit the V2X message from the first vehicle via a wireless communication link. The first vehicle may be a drone configured to communicate with a user device positioned on or near a user, and the user message may be an audible message or user gestures. Alternatively, the first vehicle may be inhabited by the user, with the user message being an audible message. The system may enable communication with an autonomous vehicle or another device equipped with V2X capability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a first communication module configured to receive a user message;   a processing unit configured to convert the user message to a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) message; and   a second communication module, wherein the first communication module, the processing unit, and the second communication module are implemented in a first vehicle, and the second communication module is configured to transmit the V2X message from the first vehicle via a wireless communication link.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communication link is a first wireless communication link, and the system further comprises an electronic device configured to be positioned proximate a user, the electronic device including a third communication module, wherein the first and third communication modules are configured to enable a second wireless communication link between first vehicle and the electronic device for communication of the user message from the user to the first vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the first vehicle is an unmanned vehicle, and:
 the electronic device comprises:
 a first wearable structure configured to be positioned on the user, the first wearable structure including the third communication module, wherein the first and third communication modules are configured to enable the second wireless communication link between the unmanned vehicle and the first wearable structure; and 
 a second wearable structure configured to be positioned on the user, the second wearable structure being physically displaced away from the first wearable structure, the second wearable structure including a fourth communication module, wherein the first and fourth communication modules are configured to enable a third wireless communication link between the unmanned vehicle and the second wearable structure; 
 
 the processing unit implemented in the unmanned vehicle is further configured to determine a current location of the unmanned vehicle relative to the user in response to the second and third wireless communication links; and 
 the system further comprises a drive control unit in communication with the processing unit and configured to adjust a speed and a position of the unmanned vehicle to move the unmanned vehicle from the current location to a predefined location relative to the user. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the predefined location is included in the user message, the user message is an audible message from the user, and at least one of the first and second wearable structures comprises a microphone configured to capture the audible message from the user and at least one of the third and fourth communication modules is configured to communicate the audible message with the predefined location via at least one of the second and third communication links. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a camera implemented in the first vehicle and configured to capture motion of a user and provide visual information of the user to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine the user message from the visual information. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first vehicle is an unmanned vehicle, and the system further comprises a camera implemented in the unmanned vehicle and configured to capture an ambient environment visible from the camera and provide visual information of the ambient environment to the user, and the user message is an audible message from the user responsive to the visual information. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the user message is a first user message, the V2X message is a first V2X message, and:
 the second communication module is further configured to receive a second V2X message via the first wireless communication link; 
 the processing unit is further configured to convert the second V2X message to a second user message for communication of the second user message from the first vehicle to the electronic device; and 
 the electronic device further comprises a speaker configured to output the second user message as an audible message to the user. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a user is positioned in the first vehicle and the first communication system comprises a microphone for capturing the user message as an audible message from the user, wherein the processing unit is configured to convert the user message to the V2X message for transmission via the wireless communication link. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the V2X message is configured for transmission to a second vehicle having at least semi-autonomous motion capability, the user message includes a voice command from the user configured to influence navigation of the second vehicle, and the V2X message includes the voice command for commanding navigation of the second vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the user message is a first user message, the V2X message is a first V2X message, and:
 the second communication module is further configured to receive a second V2X message via the wireless communication link; 
 the processing unit is further configured to convert the second V2X message to a second user message; and 
 the system further comprises a speaker implemented in the first vehicle configured to output the second user message as an audible message to the user. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first communication module is configured to implement a first wireless communication technology to enable receipt of the user message; and 
 the second communication module is configured to implement a second wireless communication technology to enable transmission of the V2X message, the second wireless communication technology differing from the first wireless communication technology. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 receiving a user message at a first vehicle;   converting the user message to a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) message at the first vehicle; and   transmitting the V2X message from the first vehicle via a wireless communication link.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the wireless communication link is a first wireless communication link, and the method further comprises:
 enabling a second wireless communication link between the first vehicle and an electronic device positioned proximate a user for communication of the user message from the user to the first vehicle. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first vehicle is an unmanned vehicle, and the method further comprises:
 positioning first and second wearable structures of the electronic device on the user, the first and second wearable structures being physically displaced away from one another; 
 enabling a second wireless communication link between the first wearable structure and the unmanned vehicle; 
 enabling a third wireless communication link between the second wearable structure and the unmanned vehicle; 
 determining a current location of the unmanned vehicle relative to the target in response to the second and third wireless communication links; and 
 adjusting a speed and a position of the unmanned vehicle to move the unmanned vehicle from the current location to a predefined location relative to the user. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 capturing an audible message from the user at the electronic device, the predefined location being included in the audible message; and 
 communicating the audible message with the predefined location via at least one of the second and third communication links. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 capturing motion of a user at a camera implemented in the first vehicle to obtain visual information of the user; and 
 determining the user message from the visual information. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the user is positioned in the first vehicle, and the method further comprises:
 capturing the user message as an audible message from the user; and 
 converting the audible message to the V2X message for transmission via the wireless communication link. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein:
 the V2X message is configured for transmission via the wireless communication link to a second vehicle having at least semi-autonomous motion capability; 
 the audible message includes a voice command from the user configured to influence navigation of the second vehicle; 
 the converting the audible message includes converting the voice command to the V2X message; and 
 the method further comprises commanding the navigation of the second vehicle via the voice command included in the transmitted V2X message. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the user message is a first user message, the V2X message is a first V2X message, and the method further comprises:
 receiving a second V2X message at the first vehicle via the wireless communication link; 
 converting the second V2X message to a second user message at the first vehicle; and 
 transmitting the second user message from the first vehicle. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein:
 the transmitting the second user message comprises converting the second user message to an audible message; and 
 outputting the audible message for detection by a user.